Foreword: I had a request for a rewrite of the original Cold Heart introduction story. As to what story constitutes the original is debatable. Some episodes were technically banned. I have one of those "lost episodes" thanks to an unknown donor who donated a DVD disk to "Hair Bear". The penname under which I wrote some reviews for Amazon. It is the episode Hugs and Tugs are ice bath tortured by Cold Heart and Frost Bite. Brutal! This re-write is based on the episode where Kevin and Donna are the first Humans to meet a Care Bear:
Ten Bears were gathered together. They were no ordinary Bears. Some mystical Beings had chosen these Bears to be special. The Bears were given Tummy Tags. Which gave the Bears special powers. Each was given a new name. "You will now collectively be known as Care Bears" a voice had told them. "There is a lack of caring on the World you were born on. Use your powers to do good. You are hereby granted a guide. The Cloud Keeper."
Suddenly what appeared to be an old man with a white beard was before them. He smiled and said "visit my cloud any time you need help. You will receive Cloud Mobiles which can guide you to me. Best of luck!" He then jumped onto what looked like a fluffy white cloud. The Bears were wide eyed as they watched the fluffy cloud drift way. The Cloud Keeper standing upon it.
Then they flinched as once again a voice spoke. "If you do well enough in performing a mission of Caring you will earn more powers. Also a unique homeland. I may even let you see who I am. For the time being you will live on this object. Which to Humans will look like a huge cloud if they ever catch a glimpse of it. For most Human eyes will not be able to perceive it. However some Humans will. Some Humans wear eye glasses. Those very rare few who may spot this Cloud are those who are very nearsighted. However they have farsighted Optic Nerves."
The Bears were a bit scared as they levitated up into the air. Then they gently settled down on the cloud like object. They found that they could not fall through it. It was if they were on solid ground. "Fear not" said the voice. "You cannot fall off. Like gravity on the Earth below us the cloud keeps you from drifting upward. You can literally walk around this cloud as though one was walking around the Earth. The Earth appears flat to Humans who trod upon it. This cloud will seem flat to you. Human flown aircraft will be transported safely around without their knowledge."
"To travel you may use these." Ten strange little cars appeared before the astonished Bears. "These are the Cloud Mobiles promised by The Cloud Keeper. With these you will be able to travel to places around the planet you were born on as ordinary Bears. Use these vehicles correctly and you may eventually achieve flight to another Dimension. Yes. There is a Fifth Dimension. One so near and yet so far from you. Now go forth and do some caring."
The Bears had no guide book to follow. So for these first Care Bears it was time for trial and error. They found food stored for them. Simple shelters which were like fluffy tents. They tried to get organized but quarreled over who should be the Leader. They decided to set up an area of the cloud they were on as a meeting place. The one called Tender Heart had an idea.
"Someday we may be able to make a place for Meetings. Since we are supposed to care for others we could call it The Hall of Hearts." For once the others agreed with no arguing. But the good moods didn't last long. Again they tried to choose a Leader.
"It should be me" said a purplish furred female. "For I am now Harmony Bear. Leaders should bring about harmony." Tender Heart said "you are a girl. Our leader should be a boy bear. One with great understanding of feelings. My tender heart gives me that ability."
"Humph" scoffed a blue furred male. "Your arguing is just making me grumpier." They were interrupted as one of the cloud mobiles lifted off. It disappeared over the edge of their cloud . Then re-appeared from the opposite direction before skidding to a stop. Just feet from another purple furred female. Who appeared to be a bit younger than Harmony. The one called Champ jumped out of the Cloud Mobile. It now looked as if it had been flown a million miles.
"These Cloud Mobiles are fun to fly" said the boy bear. The blue furred male kicked what looked like a dent in the car's left side. In a grumpy tone of voice he said "in your case fun to wreck!" Soon all the cloud mobiles had minor dings and dents, as the Bears tried their hand paws at flying. Ironically the quiet Share had been the best beginner cloud mobile driver.
Share drove further and further from their Home Cloud. She was the first Bear to accidentally jump dimensions. She also found an island by accident. On it were animals who had escaped from captivity by a most unusual Being. A very dark hearted individual. The young animals had been rescued. Then taken to the island refuge by a mystical Being.
Share did not know just how close she had come to being captured by the very same cruel individual. An evil Spirit like being. Who could transform into Human form. Often preferring to appear as a Boy. He had used animals for magical experimentation. Those now on the island refuge. Share would have later experiences with Dark Heart as he would be called. However that was still in the future.
On another test flight Share had swooped down over an old Park. Cold eyes had peered up at the strange vehicle overhead. Share had been observed then dismissed as a non-threat. She returned as promised to the island with the former magically abused animals.
Share brought back a visitor to the Care Bears cloud base. A female Pig who had been experimented on before escaping with the other animals. All who could now talk and walk much like Humans. Treat Heart Pig was promised by the Bears all of her kind would one day be rescued. As soon as the Care Bears got their act together. For the time being the animals who had been stranded with Treat Heart would have to bide their time.
In an attempt to get their act together the Bears and Pig made a trophy. The gleaming trophy was to be given out in one month. The winner would BEAR OF THE MONTH. No one seemed to consider Treat Heart as being deserving. She was not a Bear.
Meanwhile on the Earth below trouble was brewing. The old dilapidated Park spotted by Share had once garnered the attention of a cold hearted man. One whose heart was so cold he slowly changed into someone who was no longer a true Human. He became an evil Being. The former College professor decided to call himself Professor Cold Heart. Gradually under his influence the Park had changed into a scary place. Even the trees and rocks turned into evil things. In time no one dared enter into the Park. Giving the highly intelligent Cold Heart a chance to devise an evil lair for himself. He called it Castle Cold Heart .
The now scary Park had garnered the interest of some local children. However a few who had dared to enter had not come out. Searches for them by adults led nowhere. So the old Park was fenced off and warning signs posted. Which furthered Cold Heart's evil schemes. However children often take dares. Which also helped Cold Heart find a few more young victims.
Those victims were used by the Professor as Human guinea pigs. The Professor found a way to change Human children into zombie like Beings. He sapped the humanity out of them until they no longer appeared to be Humans. Thus they ended up no longer looking like children. Instead looking more like blobby zombie toads than a Human child. Their empathy had also been drained from them.
On a street not far from the Park lived a Boy named Kevin. A rambunctious pre-teen. His red hair and blue eyes had garnered the attention of the neighbors' daughter. Donna was just a few days younger than Kevin. Her brown hair just reached down to her shoulders. She had eyeglasses. Which she was a bit self conscious of.
Ironically it was her glasses that had made Kevin first take notice of her. Donna thought Boys would think her glasses may make her look like a Nerd. Kevin had actually thought they made her look less boring than the other Girls. Also she did not wear boring old sneakers like many girls. Donna like wearing purple shoes.
In another twist of irony it was Kevin s freckles which first made Donna notice him. For the Boy it was a pleasant surprise to know some Girls liked freckles. Soon Boy and Girl were the best of friends. Not far from their homes was a Man who hated friendship. Some other children had already learned that the hard way. They were now the zombie toad like creatures wandering aimlessly around Castle Cold Heart. The ability to care zapped out of them.
To help run his castle Cold Heart searched for a lackey. He found a misguided and gullible young man. The Professor convinced him to sit in a device. A helmet attached to electrodes was placed over the young man's head. The now brainwashed individual was told his name was Frost Bite. He owed his allegiance to Cold Heart. The professor now had his lackey.
There came the day Kevin received some shocking news. His Parents worked for the same Company. They were informed they may have to move due to a Corporate re-organization. Kevin had been hassled by a bully at school recently. The teachers had done little to stop the bullying. Now the news from his Parents. It was all too much for him. Kevin decided to run away.
Donna had also become unhappy. Kevin may not mind her having to wear eyeglasses. However other children found it a reason to tease her. They had referred to her as Donna Four Eyes. Then some Girls talked of a possible Beauty Pageant which had been referred to on the Local News. A committee of Adults were making plans on what the pageant could consist of. As the young Girls discussed the news one had turned to Donna. "If you enter you can forget about scoring well in a Bathing Suit competition. You could do well in a Nerd competition." Donna had run from the other Girls. Trying hard not to cry.
Far above the troubled Donna ten Bears and one Pig attempted to become the first true Care Bears and Care Cousin. They listened as a voice instructed them. Taking notes as if they were in Caring School. Perhaps their unseen instructor was aware of what had just happened to Donna. For that days lesson was on confronting teasing and taunting. "Remember" said the voice. "Words are like weapons, they wound sometimes." The teary eyed Donna was proof of that.
The fat Piggy Care Cousin wannabe turned to the Bears. The newly named Treat Heart knew how it felt to be teased over one's appearance. "Those words are so true. Now let's get our act together. Let's stop hurtful words. Also the other verbal slings and arrows Humans and ourselves use on others." Far below them Donna and Kevin were suffering from such slings and arrows. The blobby toad like creatures around Castle Cold Heart had too.
Kevin had become so upset over everything he thought of running away. He was packing a few things in a small sack when Donna walked up looking for him. He admitted to her he was thinking of running away. Donna convinced him to take a walk with her to think things over. Kevin had flung his bag over his shoulder. As the pair walked and talked they approached the old scary Park.
Several kids from their school were outside the chained gate. Trying to dare each other into breaking into the now forbidden Park. Now they taunted Donna and Kevin. Calling them chickens who were afraid of everything. "'Fraidy cats are what you are" taunted one boy. Unseen to the bullies and their targets were a set of spying eyes. As the taunts mounted Donna was led to tears. Kevin lost his temper. Kevin pushed one boy to the ground.
"Oh yeah" he yelled. Kevin heaved his bag over the fence. He grabbed Donna's hand. "We're not fraidy cats. We bet you are scaredy cats! Donna, follow me." Kevin had noticed a gap in the barred fencing. He turned sideways to squeeze through, as did Donna. The bullies watching them saw something odd happen. As soon as Kevin and Donna squeezed through they seem to vanish from sight. The other kids ran off. Shocked and scared over what they had witnessed. Also what they could be blamed for if any grown ups found out.
As soon as Donna and Kevin squeezed through the fence it was if they had been transported to another time and place. They could not see the fence they had squeezed through. Donna was shocked as she went to take a step. Her foot hit a large stone. "Watch out, dummy" said the stone. Donna and Kevin stumbled away from the stone. A tree branch seemed to grasp Kevin's shirt. In a cold female tone of voice it said "get away from me you clumsy child. You are not welcome to the Forest Without Feelings. Why aren't you serving our Master?"
The children trembled not knowing what to do. To make things worse fog suddenly formed around them. Then two figures loomed out of the fog. Donna and Kevin were shocked as a short person and a tall lanky man stood before them. The tall one spoke. "Well Frost Bite. We have two new visitors." Donna and Kevin had the shorter figure touch them with a stick like device.
"I got them Boss" said Frost Bite. Then Donna and Kevin found themselves in a stone building. Wandering around them were short, skinny, blobby green toad like creatures. Standing upright. There was a shelf and clothes hooks on one wall. From them hung children's clothing. "Where are we? I'm scared" said Donna.
Kevin gulped. He was scared too. However he tried to put up a brave front. "Don't worry Donna, I'll protect you" he said with false bravado. Then the tall man and short one approached. The tall one had white hair and long bony fingers. The short chubby one no longer looked like a man to the children. He looked more like an overgrown child. One in a heavy coat. It was then both Donna and Kevin realized it was cold in this room. "Who are you" Kevin demanded and then pointed. "And what are those things!?"
The taller individual laughed evilly. He pointed at the overgrown child like person. "I am Professor Cold Heart. This is Frost Bite. This castle is now your home." He then pointed at one of the toadies. "Don't you recognize who this is?"
Kevin blurted out "no". Now the shorter guy stepped forward and chuckled. "Gee Boss, he doesn't even recognize his own classmate from school." Frost Bite went over to a coat on one of the hooks. He pointed at a name tag. It read Devon Shwartz: age ten. Frost Bite chuckled. "Now you know who that former child was."
Professor Cold Heart gave out an evil cackle. "You will soon be just like that. After I drain out the care and humanity in you. As I drain it out of you will regress into one of my unfeeling blobby toadies. Now write down your names and age on these tags. Then I can attach them to your clothes."
Kevin and Donna wanted to refuse. However they realized it may be the only way someone could identify them in the future. As that future now seemed bleak. Kevin thought desperately for a way to escape. First Frost Bite attached Donna's tag to her shirt. Then Kevin's was attached to his shirt. At that moment Donna made a run for an open window. It was too high for a jump. Instead she yelled "help" as loud as she could.
"No one will hear you child" cackled Cold Heart. Then he produced what looked like a toy gun. It was no toy, it was one of the Professor's evil devices. Kevin stood in shock as Donna was hit by a bluish ray of light. As the flash faded Donna let out a loud sigh. Kevin saw her skin change color as she appeared to grow smaller. Donna's eye glasses fell off and clattered onto the floor. Her clothing sagged until it was in a heap on the floor. The heap of clothes was around the ankles of a blobby, skinny toad like creature.
"Donna, no" screamed Kevin in anguish. Just as he thought his end was near something swooped through the large stone lined window. Knocking out a few stones which clattered to the floor. As if by magic the transformed children were safely swept aside. Thanks to a colorful beam of light.
Cold Heart and Frost Bite were just as surprised as Kevin. For there was a strange object now in the room. It took up nearly a quarter of the room. Out of it jumped a short Bear like Being. The short but stout Bear ran and kicked the door open. More Bears ran into the room. A Bear with purple fur grabbed the Toady that was once Donna. Kevin recovered from the shock of what he had witnessed. He ran to the Bear holding what had been Donna. "Don't hurt her any more than she already has" cried Kevin.
"Your days of ruining young lives is over, Cold Heart" said a Bear with golden tan fur. In his belly fur there was something resembling a tattoo. It looked like a trophy. Cold Heart raised and tried to aim the device he had used on Donna. A Bear with a rainbow on her belly fur hollered "no you don't" as a colorful beam of light struck Cold Heart's hand. His device of evil went flying out the window. "Who are you" he hissed.
The purple Bear holding Donna said loudly "we are Care Bears. Donna if you can understand what I am saying fear not. We are here to help you."
The tan Bear now spoke. "Kevin, stand back by the clothes shelf." At that moment Frost Bite grabbed Donna. Then went running for the shattered door. In the blink of an eye Harmony tripped him. The toad like creature moved away from him. Harmony then pinned Frost Bite down on the floor with a furry foot paw. Harmony held down Frost Bite as she spoke.
"Kevin, get Donna's clothes and be ready to hand them back to her. However we must first deal with those who turned her into an uncaring creature." The Bear with the rainbow on her tummy sent out beams of light. Beams which wrapped around Cold Heart's and Frost Bite's ankles and wrists. Then the beam extended to keep the toadies safely aside.
Cold Heart cursed. "How are you little Bears able to stop me? I am a genius!" He struggled to move but fell forward. He would have fallen hard on his face but the light beam suddenly formed a cushion on the floor. Cheer laughed.
"We Care Bears may be short in height compared to you. However collectively we possess more powers than you ever will." Harmony removed her foot paw from Frost Bite's chest. She sheathed her purple colored toe claws. "That was fun" she said. "You are lucky we are forbidden to harm anyone, even bad guys."
The Bears went over to Kevin. Tender Heart spoke. "You and Donna are here because you both have been bullied. Also because you gave up hope when informed your Parents may move away. I hope you have just learned to never give up hope. You never know what the future may bring. It may not be what you wanted. Yet it may, or may even be better. The same for all the transformed children wandering about here. Now let's see if a Care Bear can undo Cold Heart's disgusting misuse of Science. We'll start with Donna, if you can pick her out."
Kevin yelled out "Donna!" One of the blobby things turned and moved forward a bit. "I hope that's her" said Kevin. Tender Heart looked over to Cheer. "Keep the baddies tied down, Cheer. Harmony, Champ, let's see if a collective Care Bear Stare can undo the harm done to Donna. If it works on her we can try it on the other children."
The three Bears gathered around the blobby creature they hoped was Donna. Kevin crossed his fingers on one hand as his other held Donna's panties. "Now, Care Bear Stare" yelled Tender Heart. Colorful beams of light jumped from furry tummies to the blob. The blob glowed under the onslaught of light. It shimmered and slowly got taller. Its color changed as a form took shape. A Human form. Then Donna was standing before the Bears.
She looked confused. Kevin yelled "Donna, you're you again! Here, grab these!" Kevin tossed Donna's panties to her. She managed to catch them. Then Donna looked down at herself. "Oh, now I remember what happened. Thanks for getting me back!" She made a move toward Kevin. Then stopped short.
Donna giggled. "Oh darn, I better put something on first." Donna hurried into her panties. After yanking them up she grabbed a surprised Kevin in a hug. Then she drew back a bit. She giggled once again. "I probably should have waited for my pants first. Oh to heck with them or my shirt for a minute." She grabbed Kevin in another hug. Then went over to three of the Bears who had helped her. "I don't know whatever kind of Bears you are. I do know you are awesome. Thanks so much."
As Donna got the rest of her clothes on Cheer kept the bag guys anchored down. The other Bears herded the toadies together. Just as Donna finished dressing Kevin said "here, I think these are your glasses." For once Donna was glad to have those eye glasses. Kevin and Donna soon joined in to help the Bears in the toady roundup. When all was ready Tender Heart yelled "ready, set, Care Bear Stare!" Multi-colored beams of light panned out over the toadies. One by one each blob transformed into a Human child.
The children were so glad to be back to normal they hardly noticed their state of undress. They yelled things such as "yeah. alright' and how did I get here?" Then were helped in finding their own clothes and other possessions from the hooks and shelf. After dressing they watched as Frost Bite and his boss were locked into a dungeon like room discovered by Harmony. Who happily stood guard as the other Bears got their Cloud Mobiles ready.
Finally the happy children were given a ride like no other back to their homes. Needless to say there were many happy re-unions that day. It took a while but finally all the children were safely back with their astonished loved ones.
Then Frost Bite and Cold Heart got a ride too. But not before Cold Heart Castle got a careful going over by Care Bears. Evil devices and tools were disabled one by one. So were traps. Several times a Bear stumbled into one. Only to be quickly helped by another Bear. Unknown to the Bears they were being carefully observed.
At long last Cold Heart and Frost Bite were left a mile from Castle Cold Heart. They had a long hike back. One the Bears hoped the bad guys would use to do some reflecting on their actions. They still caused trouble from time to time. As did other bad guys and girls. Only to be halted by some incredible Creatures. For the Care Bears had impressed the Beings who had put them on a Trial of sorts. One of those Beings had a Wish to fulfill.
The Bears had discovered how to work together. As for Kevin, he would later find out his Parents weren't moving after all. He and Donna would grow up as neighbors. He stood up to those who had bullied him. His new found self confidence got him through school. Kevin and Donna remained stead fast friends. They became a happy couple years after meeting the Care Bears. Having children of their own who would hear wondrous stories of Care Bears and Cousins. Their children unaware there was a grain of truth in those stories.
As for the Bears and Pig. Well, they decided to share the Trophy. It was engraved with all the Bears names. With Treat Heart's added in italics for special mention. After doing a few more Caring Missions they would be transformed into Cubs and Piglet. For a Bear had made a wish upon the Wishing Star. Along with a Horse she had befriended. The Bear and Horse were then set up to discover those Bears transformed into Cubs. Then the Pig who had helped. Lastly a cat, a dog, monkey and other animals were set up to be rescued. The very ones first discovered by Share a few years earlier.
Soon they all would earn new homelands. The Forest with No Feelings is now The Forest of Feelings. Mostly occupied today by the so called Care Cousins. The original Bears, another Bear and a Horse were given an upgraded Cloud. Called Care a Lot. The animals on the island were eventually rescued by Care Bears. Those once marooned animals became The Care Cousins. Their island and the Bears cloud were transported to the Fifth Dimension.
That is how the modern Care a Lot and Forest of Feelings came into existence. Now days the Bears and Cousins often intermingle. Even getting Mated to each other. Some now have Cubs, Kits and other young ones of their own. Just as we had planned. Although our methods may puzzle some Humans.
For we Other Worldly Beings work in mysterious ways. I am The Cloud Keeper. I work with Princess Starglow on behalf of Mother Star. Who answers only to The Creator of all. Do not try to understand and never question how we operate. We could transform you if need be. Of course some of you may desire to be transformed. Even transported to The Fifth Dimension. A few worthy Humans have been to the Fifth Dimension. Some have achieved the status of Human Care Bear. Who knows? You may have already met one of them without knowing it.